Question: My mother recently passed away unexpectedly at age 86. She was a 28 year renter of an apartment. After she died, I was notified by her landlord that he had gotten her to sign a lease addendum (when she was in her early 80's) that was specifically a "death clause." The clause states that, upon her death, her estate is forced to pay an early lease termination fee of 3 months rent. This is in addition to maintaining the rent monthly up until the time the apartment is vacated of all her belongings. I have scoured the internet and have found nothing like this anywhere in any lease. To me this is excessive and, indeed, unconscionable. Is this legal?
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